Golf Grip Quilted Texture and End Cap Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf club grips face challenges in maximizing friction between the player's hands and the grip while minimizing the pressure required, balancing comfort and preventing slippage during the swing, as existing textures can compromise the surface area and lead to voids or air pockets.
Innovation Solution
A flexible golf grip featuring discrete macro-textured areas with a quilted-like pattern of raised rhombic or diamond-shaped projections and axially-spaced arrow-shaped patterns, combined with a micro-texture of spaced depressions, and an end cap with axially extending protrusions made of harder elastomeric material for improved stability and feel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If textural features such as grooves and skives are added to the grip surface to control moisture, then moisture control is improved, but the effective surface area is reduced due to negative depressions creating voids or air pockets
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using negative depressions (grooves and skives) to control moisture, the patent inverts the approach by using positive protrusions (raised portions forming quilted-like patterns) to achieve both moisture control and maintain effective surface area. The raised portions channel moisture away while preserving contact area between the hand and grip.
2Reliability
If the coefficient of friction is increased to prevent slippage, then grip security is improved, but the pressure required from the player's hands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the grip surface by incorporating raised portions with specific geometries (diamond-shaped, circular, or oval cross-sections) and controlling their size (0.5mm to 2.0mm height) and spacing. These parameter changes optimize the coefficient of friction while distributing pressure, allowing high grip security with reduced hand pressure.
3Ease of operation
If the grip surface is made softer to improve comfort, then ease of operation is improved, but the coefficient of friction and grip stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different hardness within the grip structure. The base material provides softness for comfort, while the raised portions (or end cap protrusions) provide localized harder areas that enhance friction and stability. This local differentiation allows the grip to be both comfortable and stable simultaneously.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The grip design enhances the effective surface area and coefficient of friction, reducing pressure requirements, improving comfort and preventing slippage, while providing stability and a secure feel, especially at specific contact points like the palm and finger areas, thus ensuring secure grip and reduced slippage during the swing.
Implementation Method 1
the quilted texture improves the overall performance of the grip by increasing the effective surface area and the coefficient of friction
Implementation Method 2
textural features on the surface of the grip such as grooves and skives, similar to features found on the tread of vehicle tires, which serve to act as channels to control and guide moisture away from the contact areas
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible tubular golf club grip is formed of elastomeric material having a substantially closed end with an end cap. The tubular portion is formed of substantially softer material than the end cap and has disposed on opposite sides axially spaced discrete areas of macro-texture having spaced raised portions giving a quilt-like appearance. The discrete areas of macro-texture are disposed peripherally spaced on opposite sides of the grip. The end cap has an extension which closely inter-fits the inner periphery of the tubular portion and provides support therefor proximate the substantially closed end. The cap extension has axially extending protrusions peripherally spaced on the top and bottom of the cap which are flush with the outer surface of the tubular portion.